Ok I really like bookstores….for the most part. I can remember when it was fun to go into a bookstore and look for something new to read, or something from an old favorite author. Or even to find something completely new.

I went to a (large national chain(changed to avoid libel allegations)) bookstore the other day and was almost (read totally) annoyed with the trip. Just when did the salespeople at (large national chain) get direct dispensation from Jesus himself that they were darn near the center of the universe?

It was hard to get someone who was willing to help and didn’t seem like I was inconveniencing them. And they worked there! Even the girl who was ringing up the books seemed like a) she had better things to do, and b) what kind of a low life wretch would bring his kids into (large national chain) bookstore and then presume to actually buy something?!?! And if that wasn’t bad enough, c) no club and discount card???? Oh the humanity!

But I digress….There are some very…interesting people who hang out at (large national chain) bookstore. I am quite sure that a few of them lived at the bookstore or at least waited outside the door for the place to open like a junkie looking for a fix. People hanging out with their laptops getting coffee and just hanging out.

There were even people there who were quite enthralled in a novel, and at that point about half way through. I don’t know if they finished the book but I am quite sure it wasn’t paid for beforehand. I could be wrong, I frequently am.

My point is this, the word Store is in the title of the place which would mean that they sell things like…say….BOOKS! and another key word in the last sentence was SELL. C’mon people, if you go to a bookstore find a book and pony up some cash for it. Then go outside and read it! Or save your cash for our Cantankerous Old Coots book that we are working on. It will be worth it.

A bookstore is not a hangout joint. Go read something good, away from the bookstore!

I have been playing with the idea of a neural implant that plugs directly into the computer for about 15 years now. I should have jumped on it sooner before The Matrix movies came out. Now it would just be ripping off someone else. Like tents for truck beds…missed that one too.

maybe I had that implant idea from something I read…Johnny nuemonic was not a very good movie but very interesting idea. I think that people have gotten used to treating a bookstore like a library or some college common room. sometimes I am surprised that the bookstores allow it. I guess it brings them customers though.

Gibson is William Gibson a writer of science fiction who was pretty popular in the 80’s. He wrote books that were called “cyber punk” mostly about future societies where high tech is commonplace and used by pretty much the dregs of society.

On of his short stories is actually where they got the term cyberspace from.

Bladerunner would be the perfect example of an earlier cyberpunk story. (but that was written by phillip K dick not Gibson)

To a point, Matrix might fit that genre too…

and yeah the movie jonny neumonic is only soso…. and though i like the Gibson books…I think there are a lot better.

If you want to try a REALLY GOOD cyber punk type story check out SNOWCRASH or Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

Amazon’s unethical business practices, such as their stunt with independent bookstores, and refusal to collect sales taxes are some of the reasons I no longer buy anything from Amazon. Even if I pay a little more, I go to an independent bookstore. Everywhere I have lived, I have found at least one that is close to the description of the “magic bookstore” mentioned below. There’s a great one not far from where I live now.

The world is completely overrun by these giant chains of all kinds, online and physical, that all have the same things and all look the same. They are run by a lot of pathologically greedy people who care about nothing except money and the bottom line. I never patronize any of them if I can find an independent alternative.

A good read there..So much frustration eh? I tell you I too felt the same quite a few times 🙂

I was a fan of online purchases. But recently, Amazon’s unethical business practices, such as their stunt with independent bookstores, and refusal to collect sales taxes are some of the reasons I no longer buy anything from Amazon. Even if I pay a little more, I go to an independent bookstore. Everywhere I have lived, I have found at least one that is close to the description of the “magic bookstore” mentioned below. There’s a great one not far from where I live now.

The world is completely overrun by these giant chains of all kinds, online and physical, that all have the same things and all look the same. They are run by a lot of pathologically greedy people who care about nothing except money and the bottom line. I never patronize any of them if I can find an independent alternative.

we used to have a few of those bookstores here that I liked to go to. Now, most of the independent places seem dusty and dark like something you wander into in the museum town. One of my favorites of the past had a basement that was nothing but used books. There were some treasures that had been out of print for years and not mainstream at all. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all bookstores turn into video/CD/toy stores like Barnes and Noble seems to be